India Archives - Our Man On The Ground Travel and Lifestyle

Discovering Indian Village Life in Kerala

September 11, 2025 Our Man On The Ground 0

Mark Nicholls breaks away from the Kerala tourist trail to discover Indian village life. The beachfront at Chellanam is crowded; the fishing boats are coming ashore. Amid the throng are fish merchants and stallholders, porters, […]

India eVisa from the UK: Your Fast Track to Incredible India

April 8, 2025 Our Man On The Ground 0

India is a country of contrasts – ancient temples beside modern cities, serene backwaters next to bustling streets and age-old traditions woven into everyday life. For UK travellers India offers a rich tapestry of culture, […]

Taj Holiday Village Resort and Spa beach and pool

Taj Holiday Village Resort and Spa, Goa

February 19, 2023 Our Man On The Ground 0

Mark Nicholls heads to Goa on the western coast of India and a stay at the Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa. The peace is palpable; just the waves crashing ashore in the distance, the […]

The Fertile Landscape of Kerala

February 10, 2023 Our Man On The Ground 1

Mark Nicholls heads to southern India to explore the fertile landscape of Kerala. It is a region of India they call “God’s Own Country.” The description fits for the wonderfully diverse landscape of Kerala; from […]

Taj Coromandel, Chennai

November 24, 2022 Our Man On The Ground 0

The Taj Coromandel in Chennai turns out to be a wonderful surprise, because right up to the moment that you drive through the gates, it promises little. To get there, you drive past a couple […]

India

Birdwatching In Gujarat

April 29, 2020 Our Man On The Ground 0

The birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, Mark Nicholls discovers the state of Gujarat in the west of India and its appeal to bird watchers Huddled in the back of a spluttering auto-rickshaw, we were like fledglings […]

Hotels

Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort

January 23, 2019 Our Man On The Ground 0

Somatheeram is like a little world unto itself. Perched dramatically above the coconut palm-fringed arc of Chowara beach, just south of the Keralan capital, Trivandrum, the scene is already set for total relaxation. Here thatched […]

Hotels

Mekosha Ayurveda Spa Suites Retreat

January 12, 2019 Our Man On The Ground 0

Sitting lazily on the banks of a palm-fringed river, Mekosha feels a million miles away from the frenetic, traffic-clogged pace of Kerala’s capital Trivandrum, just over a half-hour’s drive south. This blissfully secluded resort is […]